Nelda Huggins led all the way round in the 400m but pulled up with a cramp just yards from the finish line and both Tarika Moses and Lakeisha Warner were able to cross the line, giving Huggins 3rd place. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Tynelle Gumbs seemed to have pulled a muscle on her third javelin throw on a cool damp evening at the Johnny Hassan Relays. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Where have all the Boys gone?! A huge contingent of U20/Open boys came across from St Thomas, USVI, but had to run against themselves due to a lack of local competitors. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Although it was a relay meet, the showdowns weren’t all with the baton.

In the U17 Girls 400m, Sprint Tech Track Club’s Tarika Moses led three high school runners under 57.00 for the first time. However, Top Notch’s sprinter Nelda Huggins took the field out for the first 350, before being affected by a cramp that allowed Moses and her teammate Lakesiha Warner to overhaul her at the finish line.

Moses posted a season’s best 55.98 seconds; Warner debuted with a personal best of 56.49, while Huggins finished in 56.71, slicing her 2-year old best from 59.60.

In the Under 17 Boys, with his main rival not running, Fast Lane Track Club’s Kyron McMaster decimated his 50.73 seconds previous best with a runaway 49.36 victory, to become the second fastest Scholastic quarter miler and in range of the 37-year old record of 48.9. 

Sprint Tech Track Club’s L’Tisha Fahie chopped her U17 Girls 100m best of 12.49 seconds earlier in the season to 12.36 with a victorious effort.

Taylor Hill, also of Sprint Tech Track Club, won for the second time against her Top Notch Track Club counterpart Shaian Vandenberg. Hill turned in a 12.18 seconds time to win the U20 Girls 100m. Her teammate Jonel Lacey improved her season’s best from 12.46 to 12.27 for second with Vandenburg third in 12.56.

Another injury scare occurred in the Javelin when Tynelle Gumbs seemed to pull a muscle in her throwing arm.

The night had got off to a cool damp start and with long delays between events, apparently due to a lack of officials, some athletes were complaining about warm up times. The U20 Girls 100m for example had been scheduled for 7:30 P.M. and by 8:30 P.M. the competitors had not been informed what time their race was to take place. They had warmed up and probably cooled down as they waited, so to run at their best would have been a major achievement.

Something the BVIAA needs to look at for future Development Meets, is using the Enid/Althea Scatliffe field as a warm up area as they have done in the past.

Of even more concern, however, must be the lack of local U20/Open Boys that are taking part. St Thomas, USVI, brought over a huge contingent of boys in that age group and virtually had to run against themselves.

In more light hearted action, Fire Services relegated Police Department to third place in their 4x100m relay showdown.

A large crowd gathered to see the public service teams in action. Chief Fire Officer Zebalon McLean was at the starting line to give his boys the final pep talk and his B Team went on to win in 48.89 seconds with HM Customs placing second in 49.51, edging the Police’s 49.84. The Fire Service A Team finished in 51.09 while a female Softball squad ran 55.49.

The Gatorade Development Series closes on Friday March 1, 2013 with the Rey O’Neal Fast Times, starting at 5:30 P.M. This competition is in honour of the BVI Athletics Association’s founding member.

The Carifta Games Trials/National Jr. Championships are scheduled for Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, 2013. Events on Friday, March 8 begin at 5:30 P.M. with events on March 9 convening at 9:45 P.M.